Melbourne developer Spacious Group has completed Voyage Altona, one of the closest new apartment developments to Altona Beach.

Off the plan purchasers have started moving into the 49-apartment project on Pier Street, with the remaining move-in-ready one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments starting from just over $500,000.

Display apartments have now been fitted out, allowing prospective buyers to inspect the completed residences by appointment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=372638]

The completed apartments feature open-plan living and dining areas which extend onto private balconies and terraces, while full-height glazing maximises natural light throughout the interiors.&nbsp;

Hybrid timber-look flooring, stone benchtops, Miele appliances, porcelain-tiled bathrooms and generous storage feature throughout the building which also features landscaped communal areas, expansive shared terraces, lift access and secure on-grade parking.

Drawing inspiration from its bayside setting, Voyage adopts a restrained palette of warm neutral tones and textured finishes. Many of the apartments take advantage of views across Port Phillip Bay, while the indoor-outdoor living spaces have been designed to make the most of the coastal outlook.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=3286]

Voyage was developed to address what Spacious Group identified as an undersupply of higher-quality apartment product in Altona, with a focus on owner-occupiers looking to remain within the bayside community.

"Voyage responds to very strong local buyer demand for quality, owner-occupier-focused product," says Barry Plant Projects Director Jarrod Farey, who has handled sales since the project's launch.

"The project delivers an elevated lifestyle proposition, with its design and quality of finish far exceeding anything previously produced in the area, as well as its proximity to Pier Street Village and the beach."

The majority of purchasers have been local downsizers and owner-occupiers looking to stay within the Altona community but who previously had limited opportunities to buy a brand-new apartment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112195]

Joel Robinson

Spacious Group completes Voyage Altona in Altona's beachside precinct

Homecorp has secured approval for a $360 million apartment development at Budds Beach, paving the way for one of the Gold Coast's most amenity-rich residential projects to launch later this year.

Gold Coast City Council has approved Lýon Residences, a 32-level tower that will deliver 178 two and three-bedroom apartments across a prominent corner site at 8-10 Acacia Avenue and 25-27 Oak Avenue.

The approval comes as developers continue to invest in premium lifestyle-driven apartment projects on the Gold Coast, where owner occupiers are increasingly prioritising amenity as much as apartment size and location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/l-on-residences-25-27-oak-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Lýon Residences</a> has been designed around a resort-style wellness offering, headlined by a Moroccan-inspired spa precinct featuring treatment rooms, a Nordic sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a soaking pool and a residents-only juice bar.

The rooftop will include a heated infinity pool and spa, residents' lounge with private kitchen and bar, gymnasium, yoga and Pilates studio, outdoor entertaining areas and barbecue facilities overlooking the Surfers Paradise skyline.

<img alt="Lyon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d3e29af-8793-486e-a684-52cef862241f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-15%20at%204.32.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ayG2zpLf3SS6Zy8XmKDcQods4kVWb0gm" />

Homecorp Founder and CEO Ron Bakir said Budds Beach provided the ideal location for the company's latest luxury apartment project.

"Budds Beach represents one of the most unique and sought-after pockets of the Gold Coast, and Lýon Residences has been designed to reflect that sense of rarity and refinement," Bakir said.

The project arrives as wellness continues to become a defining feature of new residential developments both in Australia and internationally.

The latest Global Wellness Institute figures show wellness real estate remains the fastest-growing segment of the global wellness economy and is forecast to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030. Australia continues to rank among the world's 15 largest wellness real estate markets, with developers increasingly integrating health, recreation and community facilities into apartment projects.

Queensland is also experiencing strong population growth, with the Gold Coast continuing to outperform many other Australian cities as demand for new housing remains elevated ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Bakir said the project had been designed to respond to that shift in buyer expectations.

"Strong population growth and sustained demand across the Gold Coast continue to highlight the need for well-designed new housing supply. Lýon Residences responds directly to this demand while setting a new benchmark for residential living," he said.

Each apartment has been designed to maximise views across the coastline, the Nerang River and the Gold Coast hinterland.

Located just minutes from Surfers Paradise beach and the Broadwater, the development also offers easy access to the light rail network, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

Early site works are underway, with construction expected to commence later this year.

Homecorp approved for Budds Beach apartment tower, Lýon Residences

New apartment developments with uninterrupted, north-facing views over Perth's Swan River are exceptionally rare.

Recognising just how limited those opportunities are, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/edge-visionary-living">Edge Visionary Living</a>, one of Perth's most respected builder-developers, targeted <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/applecross-wa-6153">Applecross</a>, assembling an unrepeatable 6,342 sqm riverfront site on the corner of Moreau Mews and Canning Beach Road to create one of Perth's only new north-facing apartment developments directly overlooking the Swan River.

Today, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/riviere-residences-applecross-59-canning-beach-road-applecross-wa-6153">Rivière Residences</a> offers buyers a unique opportunity to choose between completed residences ready to move into now and off-the-plan homes in the final stage, Rivière West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3823]

Across the completed East and Central buildings, residents are already enjoying the development's luxury amenity, while two of the precinct's hospitality venues are now open.

The completed component of the development gives buyers the advantage of experiencing the finished product firsthand, including its uninterrupted river views, while still having the opportunity to secure a residence in the final stage.

"People are wowed by the view and the quality of the apartments,"&nbsp;Edge Visionary Living Sales Executive, Holly McSweeney, says.

"They're looking for the convenience of lock-and-leave living, but they're not looking to downsize on quality."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3826]

The rarity of the development hasn't been lost on prospective buyers, McSweeney says.

For McSweeney, it all comes back to a location that is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate.

"Location, location, location," she says. "We are nestled right on the front of the Swan River. You can never get built out, so wherever you are in Rivière Residences, you've got views of the river forever."

The unique waterfront position has resonated particularly strongly with local downsizers. McSweeney says many buyers are long-time Applecross residents looking to transition from large family homes into a luxury apartment without sacrificing space, quality or the lifestyle they've enjoyed for decades.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_FowNW0wu8?si=vb25XFq1wZ-iufAW" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

A major focus for Edge in recent years has been resident amenity. Across its apartment portfolio, from beachfront developments in Scarborough to luxury towers in South Perth, the developer has increasingly invested in the spaces beyond the apartment itself.

The strategy has largely been shaped by downsizer demand. Many buyers are moving from large family homes with swimming pools and established gardens. While they're looking to leave the maintenance behind, they don't want to compromise on lifestyle.

At Rivière, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hillam-architects">Hillam Architects</a> designed the resident facilities as an extension of each apartment. A 25-metre heated swimming pool takes advantage of the north-facing river outlook, complemented by a large gym, sauna and steam rooms, private dining spaces, residents' lounges, a cinema, games room, and dedicated wine and whisky rooms.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=372542]

The waterfront location has also proved to be a major drawcard. Residents are within walking distance of the Raffles Hotel, South of Perth Yacht Club, the Heathcote Cultural Precinct and the cafés, restaurants and boutiques along Ardross Street.

Beyond the location and amenity, McSweeney says many buyers take confidence from Edge's fully integrated development model.

Having delivered apartments across Perth for decades, Edge now designs, develops and constructs its projects in-house, giving the company greater control over quality, delivery and the finished product.

"What I love is when people walk through their apartment for the first time and say, 'This is better than what we imagined,'" McSweeney says. "We hear that all the time."

Completed apartments in the East and Central buildings are now available to inspect by appointment, while Rivière West, the final stage of the precinct, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=28384]

North-facing Swan River views drive demand at Rivière Residences in Applecross

Nearly 60 per cent of apartments at McNab Group's $220 million The Tannery development in Brisbane's West End have sold ahead of the project's public launch, including a suburb-record $2.57 million sale for a two-bedroom apartment.

The early sales campaign has secured buyers for 50 of the project's 87 apartments, highlighting continued demand for larger owner-occupier apartments that combine generous floorplans with premium lifestyle amenities in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374768]

McNab Group Executive Chairman Michael McNab said selling more than half the project before launch reflected changing buyer expectations.

"Selling more than half the project before public sales open tells us buyers are actively seeking apartments that offer something genuinely different," McNab said.

"Today's buyers are looking beyond four walls. They want homes that genuinely enhance the way they live, with spaces that support health, connection and everyday wellbeing."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374767]

A key point of difference for the project is the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed Dixon's Tannery building, which will become The Retreat, a residents-only wellness precinct rather than being redeveloped into additional apartments.

The Retreat will feature a sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a commercial-grade gym, Pilates studio, cinema, library, co-working spaces and private dining room. Rooftop amenities will include a swimming pool, landscaped gardens, outdoor entertaining areas and dog-friendly spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374760]

Designed by Cottee Parker Architects with interiors by Tom Mark Henry and landscape architecture by Aspect Studios, The Tannery comprises 87 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 11 levels overlooking the Brisbane River.

Cottee Parker principal Dee Passenger said preserving the original tannery building had been central to the project's design.

"The easy option would have been to maximise the site's development potential with additional apartments. Instead, McNab has chosen to preserve the original tannery as a shared wellness retreat, ensuring this important piece of Brisbane's history remains at the heart of the community."

Passenger said sustainability also played a key role in the design, with materials from the original industrial site salvaged and repurposed throughout the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374761]

Motiv CEO Carly Cottam said buyers had responded strongly to the combination of larger apartments, wellness facilities and the West End lifestyle.

"We are seeing more buyers looking for homes in the sky that provide the space and functionality of a traditional home, while benefiting from the convenience and lifestyle that apartment living brings," Cottam said.

She said purchasers included both owner occupiers and investors, with demand coming from local buyers as well as interstate purchasers.

Coinciding with the public launch, McNab also announced a partnership with Queensland Ballet, whose neighbouring Thomas Dixon Centre shares historical ties with the original Dixon family.

Located on a 4,465 sqm site at 439 Montague Road, The Tannery overlooks the Brisbane River and is around 10 minutes from the CBD.

Construction is underway, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143337]

More than half of residences sold before public sales as McNab announces significant partnership with Queensland Ballet

McNab's The Tannery nears 60 per cent sold before public release, sets two-bedroom West End record

Iwan Sunito's vision for a landmark mixed-use precinct in Sydney's Inner West has taken a major step forward, with approval granted for the $1.9 billion Five Dock development first unveiled earlier this year.

The approved scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a> will deliver an 80,500 sqm mixed-use precinct comprising 840 apartments, integrated hotel accommodation, commercial and retail space, alongside publicly accessible open space designed to create a new destination for the growing suburb.

"This is a significant milestone for One Global Capital and for the future of housing delivery in Sydney," Sunito said.

"The Housing Delivery Authority was established to identify major housing projects capable of delivering meaningful supply more efficiently, and we are delighted that Spencer Street has been recognised as one of those projects.”

He said the declaration reflected the rapid progress achieved since acquiring control of the site.

"In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW Government's most important planning pathways. It reflects the experience of our team, the strength of our consultant group led by Urbis, and our long-term commitment to delivering transformational projects that contribute to Sydney's future."

When the project was revealed earlier this year, Sunito described the opportunity as one of the strongest development sites he had worked on.

"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito said.

"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."

The development has evolved since its initial announcement, with the approved plans increasing the residential component from the originally proposed 750 apartments to 840 homes while retaining the project's focus on creating an integrated neighbourhood rather than a standalone residential development.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/a-city-within-a-city-iwan-sunito-flags-1-5-billion-mixed-use-precinct-in-five-dock">"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock</a>

The precinct will combine apartments with hotel accommodation, commercial workplaces, retail offerings and public spaces, creating a mixed-use environment intended to serve both residents and the broader Five Dock community. The proposal also continues the collaboration between One Global Capital and internationally recognised architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, whose previous work with Sunito includes Infinity, Arc and Skye North Sydney.

Takada previously said the design was driven by a philosophy of integrating nature into the built environment.

"The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Takada said.

"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."

Sunito has consistently described the project as a "city within a city", with a strong emphasis on creating a destination that extends beyond housing.

"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community," he said.

The approval comes as Five Dock continues its transformation ahead of the opening of the Sydney Metro West line, with the new Five Dock station set to significantly improve connections between the Inner West, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

The precinct will also benefit from its proximity to the Parramatta Road corridor, nearby waterfront parklands and established retail and dining offerings that have made Five Dock one of Sydney's most tightly held Inner West suburbs.

Iwan Sunito secures approval for $1.9 billion Five Dock mixed-use precinct

Peter Chittenden

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Over the last 12-18 months investors have become an important part of the target market for most project marketers.
The 2012-13 Annual Report of the NSW Rental Bond Board gives some keen insights to the character of the Sydney rental market. The insights are well worth sharing with investors, developers and marketers alike.
It is estimated that there are some 2.47 million private dwellings in NSW of which 703,158 (when last counted by the Board) are private sector rental properties and there’s a general trend suggesting that soon this will account for almost 30% of housing stock. By any measure the residential rental accommodation is key and seemingly ever more important.
In 2009/10 the Board held some 648,141 bonds or $840 million but in 2012/13 it held 703,158 bonds or $1.043 billion, and since the GFC the number of people in rental accommodation has been on an upward trend with the biggest increase being seen in 2012/13. It is also reasonable to expect that this trend will continue as affordability remains tight and as more new stock is completed and becomes available to rent.
There also appears to be a trend towards longer lease terms. This may in part be directly related to the improved quality of apartments that are now being developed. Investors are now very keen to purchase apartments that offer good quality, this applies to SMSF investors who are looking for long-term income and tenant stability. The sometimes termed ‘rental quality’ is no longer acceptable, as any sort of dumbing down in a development will fall short of investor expectations.
The trend towards longer leases, and hence more security for investors, is seen in some of the Board’s figures. These show that lease terms of between 13 to 24 months are the fastest growing sector of demand and that lease terms beyond 37 months are a very stable part of the market.
Two-year terms are now around 33.5% – a big increase from the level of 23.3% in 2001/02. It also appears that investors are also on a winning trend with more than 91% of bonds returned in full or only with part deductions and only 9.3% of bonds claimed by landlords. Again, I think that this points to an evolving and longer-term rental market, which for some tenants means that renting is less of a stop-gap measure and longer lease terms may also help people save for their own home, while flat-sharing of more expensive properties is also a popular option.
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pchittenden-eLqUUC8TWW

Sydney’s residential rental accommodation is more important than ever

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NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance has confirmed just how much Sydney’s real estate boom is adding to the general fortunes of the state.
The 2014 budget papers show that "a resurgence in the property market has significantly lifted transfer duties in 2013-14". Transfer duty, including stamp duty, contributed $938 million of state budget revenue. This result was seen as a ‘windfall’ and measures to further stimulate the rate of new home construction were also announced in the budget.
The Treasurer also announced that the threshold for the first home buyer $15,000 grant will be boosted to $750,000 – an increase of $100,000. From 1 July 2014, the NSW government will boost the threshold of the First Home Buyers Grant for new homes by $100,000, which means entry level buyers can spend up to $750,000 on a new property.
However extending this to established homes appears to be totally off the agenda given the level of demand and the increased prices over the last six to 12 months. Still, eligibility for the grant will from 1 July 2014 be restricted only to citizens who are permanent Australian residents.
The NSW government has also pledged to freeing up land supply and speeding the delivery of some infrastructure to help boost construction activity.
Property Plays a Big Part in State’s Economy
However when looking at the government’s revenue papers in the budget, it is easy to see how important a robust property market is. But at the same time the extent of revenue from property and some related areas may be placing too great a burden on the sector.
Comments in the budget also underline how relatively volatile, even fragile this revenue stream can be, and so I think it’s worth looking in more detail at some key points. What we can see is how reliant the government is on this revenue and why any move to abolish stamp duty as part of a possible review of state-based tax reforms looks a long way off, if ever, although remaining mortgage duty is being abolished in 2015.
One of the most telling figures in the revenue statement is the comparison between GST revenue and transfer duty. GST revenue in 2014-15 is estimated at $6.094 billion rising to $6.9 billion in 2017-18. By comparison transfer duty revenue in 2014-15 is estimated at $6.095 billiob but is anticipated to rise more than GST to $7.256 billion in 2017-18. On top of which Land Tax will add $2.4 billion – $2.8 billion in the same time frame, while we should not forget the parking space levy set to reach $115 million by 2017-18 and so adding these figures we see that by 2017-18 direct property related revenue for the state will be some $10.24 billion.
The budget papers do point out that the 2013-14 results were expected to increase by 20.5% but in fact the increase looks set to be closer to 35%. Further the current budget anticipated an increased volume of sales at 6% but the final figure was much more at 18%. And residential property prices have increased by some 10% over the past budget period, however those figures are not expected to be maintained, but any slow down is expected to be gentler than previous cycles. And in the four years to 2017-18 the government is expecting a growth rate of 7% over the four years. In today’s market this looks a conservative estimate.
What Has Been Driving These Figures
The Office of State Revenue might be expected to be conservative in its views, however key facts driving the revenue in 2013-14 have, according to the Office, been: historically low interest rates, pent up demand, under supply, improved consumer confidence and of course the obvious big increase in house prices.
When looking at the impact of house prices, the Office points out that activity was initially driven by sales of less than $600,000 but now strong growth in sales of homes valued over $1.2 million is apparent, however the Offices argues that this trend might also mark a peak in the housing cycle.
A Keen Eye Out for Strong Construction Activity
Given the potential of $10 billion in annual revenue by 2017-18 the government is also keen to keep the recovery in new construction on a robust footing. In the December quarter 2013 private sector dwelling approvals were 44% higher than the decade average, as were dwelling commencements while completion were 14% above the decade average.
The hope is that these strong results will continue over the next 4 years, as this appears vital for the health of NSW. However the reality is that the sector and those home buyers paying stamp duty (and that’s the majority) are doing some heavy lifting when it comes to government revenues and any adjustment to the GST needs to address this reality.
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New South Wales reliant on the property market for revenue

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Last week a New York real estate listing started making the rounds on Twitter creating a great deal of debate.
The author tweeted: “New barrier breached in NYC real estate? The US$1 million STUDIO.” The New York based broker had listed a 532 square feet (49.4 square metre) studio for almost US$1.1 million (AUD$1.172). What’s more, the particular studio was described in a somewhat down-beat way as “not even in a coveted block!”
The Twitter activity started a conversation about how realistic this claimed ‘record’ was and for my part, back in Australia, and for Sydney in particular, I also find myself asking if the $1 million price benchmark needs to be updated, specifically when it comes to apartment values.
Back to New York for a minute. In reality the listing was not “a new barrier breached” for the city. It’s not even the most expensive studio listed because right now there’s a range of studios from 400 square feet at US$1.05 million to an eye watering US$1.8 million (which last sold in 2009 for US$925,000) for just 689 square feet that’s 64 square metres which is a much more familiar size and price for a quality well-designed one bedroom unit or for some two bedroom units here.
Recently, in just a few hours, Colliers International <a href="/expert-insights/buying/bondi-junction-aqua-off-the-plan-sellout-leaves-buyers-scrambling-to-secure-apartments">sold out Aqua at Bondi Junction</a> where 66 of the 129 apartments were sold for an average of $1,000,000 plus.
Today Sydney has around 170 suburbs with a median house price of $1 million. In fact, one in five Sydney suburbs is a $1 million plus area, which underlies the city wide trend, but this also argues the case for another benchmark to be used to gauge evolving values.
It’s also estimated that half of Sydney’s home owners will find themselves ‘millionaires’ by 2020, by virtue of the fact that an estimated 625,000 houses across the metropolitan area will have a value of more than $1 million, when twenty years ago, we weren’t even at $200,000.
Prices, even for some prime one bedroom apartments are now, as the Bondi Junction example shows, long past the $1 million price point. At Sydney’s Barangaroo that price has been achieved for an off the plan one bedroom apartment with parking at around 60 square meters, ($16,600 per square metre). While at just below this price a 60 square metres one bedroom apartment on level 36 at The Cove, on Harrington Street The Rocks could today be purchased at $950,000, ($15,833 per square metre).
Many if not most buyers are now very comfortable with per square metre rates being used to underpin process. And for apartments, that might be a much better city-wide guide than the $1 million sale price measure.
The use of a rate per square metre I think better reflects the location, quality and facilities of individual apartments and also gives a more accurate reflection of the total project. We also need to try and more fully factor in the big leap forward in quality and design that apartments in 2014 now deliver. There has been a massive increase in quality, finishes and design and we also need to better reflect location and building facilities and there is sound reason to suggest that a rate per sqm benchmark would do this.
Otherwise like the New York example demonstrates, the raw price can give a flawed or even misleading impression.
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The $1 million apartment yardstick is no longer relevant

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The idea of multigenerational living (MGL) is not new and in some societies it’s a very old idea, however not so for Australia, although this may be changing.
Looking at the central role design plays in the planning and marketing of new residential developments, I think that we need to consider the more widespread impact of MGL, and its impact is already being felt, even if the changes are still only subtle, at the margins.
In some European and Asian countries MGL is a normal part of the social and housing fabric; in the USA the trend is on the increase mainly in response to economic conditions. In the US social conditions are also changing, shared living sits with shared economic resources and many of the trends are now being mirrored in the Australian housing landscape.
Economic conditions are linked at one end of the market to falling housing affordability and at the other end of the market tied to the insecurity of retirement income. In some parts of the US it is now more common to see parents living with the kids, along with grandparents and younger siblings living with their more financially stable older brothers and sisters. There are varied housing needs in play here across these different generations and this is impacting the size and design of housing stock. In Australia we see the same demographic pressures now starting to come into focus and the recent federal budget has further magnified the trends.
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Multigenerational living responds to many economic and social needs and is a trend that is going to continue to impact the design and demand for housing.
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Here we see pressure on the middle-class, Baby Boomers want to stay living in their homes for as long as they can, while their kids are also staying longer in the family home as they face the hurdles of housing affordability.
Also if baby boomers have to work longer towards their 70’s, then staying in the family home near employment will have an immediate impact. People close to retirement will stay local and the idea of a tree or sea change will be less appealing because of very limited employment options. Working longer and staying connected longer will make it more attractive to share accommodation.
The Security of Proximity
MGL delivers one clear benefit and that is the security of proximity. Grandparents under the same roof as their younger family members is an obvious example, but young couples with kids can also benefit if they have the support of parents and grandparents to help with either ongoing or occasional childcare. This pooling of resources both financial and because of the help of an extended family, even if only for a few years, will also help those saving for a home, and it is hard to argue that MGL will be on the increase driven by the desire to make housing more affordable.
The benefits apply as much to shared rental accommodation as they do to owned property, with the idea of shared rental accommodation taking us back to the past days of young people in a shared house or apartment.
Design Is Already Responding
In Australia MGL is already having an impact, and this will continue to gain pace as the market adjusts to our shifting demographics and economic circumstances. For example go to almost any new housing display village and you will find any number of homes with ‘parent’s or teenage retreats’ and with multiple living zones, and two-way kitchens. The granny flat is now a hotel-like self-contained unit on the ground level of a designer four or five-bedroom home. While more generally house designs are delivering designs that provide different shared spaces that also function to provide the privacy we all crave.
Or consider the options that a three-bedroom dual key apartment might offer a MGL family unit. A two bedroom home for mum and dad and a one bedroom flat for a young adult child, that could one day be homes in the reverse, or a multi-unit investment for the family. Another example I now see is one family buying a number of apartments in the same development to meet the different overlapping needs of different generations.
Multigenerational living responds to many economic and social needs, some long-term other short-term and others that relate to financial security and limitations, however this is a trend that is going to continue to impact the design and demand for housing.
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Multigenerational living: The future impact on design and demand for housing

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Choosing an apartment that is best suited to your personal lifestyle or investment goals is now about much more than just price.
Apartments today deliver an ever more urbane choice, where buyer demand has lead to a revolution in quality and design. As discussed in my last post, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/how-mixed-use-developments-will-continue-to-benefit-a-wide-range-of-mixed-users">the shift in user demographics plays a major role</a> and for many people apartments clearly tick the box for quality, design excellence and innovation. But this has not been achieved overnight.
Apartments from the 1970s may well reflect what is sometimes described as ‘the decade that taste forgot’. The 1970s brought us open plan living, colour – think orange and lime green – terracotta tiles, shag pile wall to wall carpets, big windows, indoor plants and one trend in particular, the use of exposed brick that still dominates some areas of our near city suburbs.
In the mid 1970’s apartment prices in Sydney hovered near $22,000 a decade later $66,000 and then in 1993 apartment prices started to rise and demand also increased for what was starting to become a more all-embracing product. Today the median price for a two bedroom apartment is around $850,000 but these bear no relation to any 1970s ancestor.
But even though some apartments can typically still cost less than a similar-grade house (although that gap is fast closing), in 2014 price alone is not the main consideration driving demand. While the decision to buy a particular type of dwelling is tied to demographics, shrinking household sizes, our ongoing housing shortage and a growing population are all factors.
The reality is that today, apartments are the home of choice for many people and first-class design, I think, is one key reason that can over-reach issues of affordability.
In February 2000 the then New South Wales Premier Bob Carr criticised the quality of the design of residential flat buildings. He challenged architects, the development industry and Local and State governments to do better.
“Australians can lead the world on how to balance urban densities with environmental comfort … The government, with councils, developers and architects, must work together on how to lift our game and create better, more liveable and sustainable suburbs.” (Premier Bob Carr, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 Feb 2000.)
Now almost 15 years after Bob Carr made those remarks has the industry faced up to his model and has the challenge been met?
I think we are well on our way to meeting, and in fact going past the ambitions. There will always be pressures to deliver enough housing in a high-growth future. But we also need to ensure that developments are well located and history shows that the arrival of new projects in some areas is not always welcomed.
However, this should not be allowed to frustrate or diminish the quality of medium or high-density residential buildings. In fact just the opposite. Because as design and quality improve new developments can add value to an area, boosting local demand and delivering sought after homes.
New apartments in our sought after suburbs are in high demand but there is only a limited supply of land, as for example, former commercial and industrial sites are regularly transformed. Understanding that sites are increasingly rare developers are now more than ever aiming to deliver exceptional projects to the market, from a marketing perspective I know that buyers now have ever higher expectations, and rightly so.
Picture of Woolooware Bay development: Supplied.
You can read Peter's discussion with Woolooware Bay architects, Kevin Driver and Angus Henderson from Turner Architects at Peter's blog, <a href="https://www.projectagenda.com.au/" target="_blank">Project Agenda</a>.
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The design dividend: First-class designs make apartments the home of choice for many buyers

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In the very early days of my career I can remember that the promise of being involved with a ‘mixed use’ development was always an exhilarating idea.
At the time mixed use was the development mantra of the day when a combination of commercial space, retail, hotels, public amenity and residential was being looked at on a new scale, with the aim of bigger and better.
Mixed use was seen not only as a way of adding a more complex layer of capital value and possibly increasing income from the project, but also as a way to better guarantee success in the long-term as the different uses acted in a harmonising way.
Mixed use developments were also seen as the ideal way to invigorate areas because they would hopefully attract a more diverse target market, in a way that say a freestanding office building could not. It’s also not that long ago when for example the Sydney CBD and to an even greater extent North Sydney CBD were seen as lacking soul and appeal because these areas where dominated by commercial office space. After hours and on weekends they were seen as dull and as retail and cinemas moved to big regional shopping centres the trend intensified. However over the past 20 plus years, in part due to the big increase in apartment projects, that view has turned around and both markets are now the dynamic centres we all know.
Mixed Users
We have come to understand that single-use markets usually have a limited life, while mixed markets offer wider appeal. However we no longer need to rely upon markets to hopefully evolve with a sort of planning wish list. We know that major mixed-use projects require a large capital investment, however today we have a variety of investment platforms and planning incentives that favour such development.This brings me to the emerging impacts that ‘mixed users’ will have for the residential market.
I suggest that when we think of mixed users we also need to include mixed generations of users as a key demographic of the market and how this might impact the appeal of a project.
Diversity has an important role, even an essential role to play in creating a vibrant community and this now applies more than ever to the demographics of a successful residential development. Many aspects of the demographic mix of our cities are now starting to change and successful developments are reflecting these changes.
For a variety of reasons we are now seeing the emergence of multi-generational households in the housing market. While in our social mix this is not a totally new phenomenon, the numbers are likely to start to grow in the future. There are already some early signs.
For example the number of three-person and six-person households increased in the 2011 census, while other groups were somewhat static. However the numbers of three bedroom dwellings feel while the number of one bedroom and two bedroom dwellings did increase, but most of this movement was concentrated across inner city locations. This points to larger numbers of singles looking for a strong social base, greater ‘connectivity’. This is in part associated with a multi-generational neighbourhood, the various age groups do not always have to be under the same roof to create a rich social fabric.
The Modern Family – It’s Here Already
The recent federal budget is forcing Australians to contemplate the idea of a shrinking middle class, with one result being that more young people are living at home longer. And when mum and dad do move, they might sell and be looking at a location where they can buy two apartments to replace the family home, but still retaining all family ties.
We also know that many retiring Baby Boomers want to age in place, or in the local area they are familiar with, the idea of retiring and leaving is no longer the preferred option and we know only too well that longer life expectancies are going to have a huge impact on housing demographics. The granny flat in the back garden is also another reality creating multi-generational households.
The multigenerational home or development project is clearly a housing type that is already in demand but may well become a much bigger market force.
This will I think result in projects offering well beyond the traditional mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments, if we have a vision for the 21st century then the impacts of multi-generational living will be far-reaching. So over the next few posts I am going to explore some of the options.
One example is the idea of mixed use projects, that have a mix of options not only extending to the choice of housing, but also how facilities are built, funded and shared, the blending of mixed use and users.
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How mixed-use developments will continue to benefit a wide range of 'mixed users'

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Over the past week or so there’s been no shortage of comment on the federal budget. It’s sure to be an ongoing discussion and I would like to look at a few less publicised topics that went under the radar.
The first concerns the search for a new Secretary for the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and whoever this person might end up being, it’s a position we should all be interested in.
Currently the state government’s planning reforms are treading water, and progress which is vital to the development industry is in the hands of the new look cabinet and in particular with the new Planning Minister Pru Goward. Labelled as the biggest shake-up of planning in more than 30 years, the planning overhaul has been in limbo since November 2013.
Under the previous Planning Minister Brad Hazzard, plans remained deadlocked including the key aim of a new fast-tracked development pathway. However there are community and industry concerns about the planning reforms and so the new Secretary and Ms Goward will face a few hurdles.
This newly created position was one of the first steps taken by the Minister and brings together the functions of planning, environment, heritage and local government and as noted in the recruitment advertising calls for candidates able to shape the future of planning and the environment in the state. For many years planning delays and red tape have been seen as holding back the development industry. While according to Meriton’s boss Harry Triguboff, affordability has also been impacted making it harder for first time buyers and inflating prices.
There are many reasons why this role will be keenly watched after applications close on 8 June.
Building Products On The Up
On a related but somewhat different path, only one day after the federal budget was announced a statement from CSR announced a full year net profit of $72.0 million, up a very impressive 143% with a statutory net profit of $88.1 million.
CSR noted that building products earnings increased by 20% with growth across most businesses, and that building approvals for both detached and multi-residential housing continue to grow strongly.  According to CSR this trend is expected to lead to increased demand over the next few years as multi-residential projects near completion and in another positive sign for the industry CSR also notes a solid pipeline of transactions currently under negotiation.
In February, Boral Limited also announced another healthy result with a 73% increase in net profit for the six months ended 31 December 2013. The Building Products division’s significant turnaround was in part due to the tailwind of improving housing construction demand in New South Wales and Western Australia.
The results from CSR and Boral do indicate that a move to see stronger development activity is now starting to take hold. The trend is further underlined by the ASX Materials Index which has increased by 8.34% in the last 12 months, while the related Industries Index has also increased by 9.45% over 12 months.
These figures are important as they point to how successfully we are moving from the resources construction boom. While the Resources Index rose 8.16% over the last 12 months the three-year trend is down 9.11%.
Planning Needs to Get in to Step
The pending appointment of a new planning and environment supremo for NSW and the need for new planning laws to be sorted out, may appear to be some distance from either of the boardrooms of CSR or Boral. However these two news items are linked because they point to the continued transformation of the national economy.
And while I have avoided direct comment on the federal budget, its strong infrastructure focus will no doubt impact CSR, Boral and similar companies and our future new department secretary as well. In a wider context new residential developments will soon come into the picture as planning rules for NSW are re-visited and as the construction sector benefits from strong infrastructure spending.
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The property topics that have flown under the radar

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Each year in Australia there are about 50,000 divorces, although the ABS figures were last published in 2012, the divorce rate had been in steady decline since peaking in 2001.
Divorce is one of those key social factors that does have a marked impact on the residential property market, and sometimes in surprising ways. I frequently come across mainly males who ‘unexpectedly’ find themselves in the housing market where finding a new home can have a material impact on diverse areas from location to design.
For both males and females granted a divorce in 2012, 60.3% were less than 45 years of age at divorce, while 51.0% of males were less than 45 years of age at divorce. The highest incidents of divorce is then in the age bracket of 40-44 years of age, and this fact alone is not worthy as this age bracket is also when people are at the peak of their earning and debit capacity.
We earn more in our 40s but also that’s when debt, including mortgage debt peaks, and so this along with the fact that many married couples in this age bracket will also have kids in their late teens, we are looking at a tricky situation. For some this can result in them having to enter or re-enter the housing market in a ‘gun to the head’ state of affairs.
A Mix of Family, Personal and Financial Needs
The impact of divorce on housing is far reaching and is underscored by the fact that in 2011, there were some 24,144 divorces involving children under 18 years of age. This represents 48.4% of all divorces granted.
The complexity of financial arrangements is further explained by the fact that the median length of marriage increased from 10.5 years in 1992 to a peak of 12.6 years in 2005. Since 2005 it has decreased slightly, with a median duration of marriage to divorce of 12.2 years recorded in 2012 and so over the intervening decade plus, many families would have purchased a home and be close to the mid-way point of their loan terms.
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Divorce is one of those key social factors that does have a marked impact on the residential property market, and sometimes in surprising ways.
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Another key reason why divorce for people in their mid 40s impacts their home living arrangements comes via the fact that over the last 20 years, the proportion of joint divorce applications has been on the rise, and the proportion of one party applications has been on a downward trend. Now joint applications remain the highest and they account for almost 40% of all applications.
There has also been another and possibly related demographic shift, and that is the number of children aged below four living with two parents has been on decline for some years, while the number of children in the same age group living with one parent has been on the increase. With more sole parents, housing demand has been shifting and this trend may well continue to grow.
The rate of divorce may well continue to decline if couples do not marry for the reason of looking after younger children. But when they stay married the entire family unit will be older and this will further impact housing outcomes when a divorce does happen.
Housing Post Divorce
It does appear that at times couples could well be putting off getting a divorce because they simply cannot afford all the costs involved in re-housing. However when in their mid 40s there is evidence of some degree of greater mobility, although at a cost.
One hurdle will be the costs associated with buying and selling two homes. Coinciding with a real estate slump during the GFC divorce rates declined, because couples without ample money to spare were forced to stay together because no one wanted to sell the family home at a loss. Possibly because in the past the individual who kept the family was in the end financially better off.
However we also see many couples leaving the family home with the female partner and the children with males moving on, which is helping to create demand for smaller apartments to both buy and lease. This demand is also causing some males to look for accommodation near the family home, and this would directly reflect the no fault trends that I detailed earlier.
However women in particular are becoming less attached to the old family home, wanting to begin a new life in a new home and this again is having an impact on the demand for smaller apartments.
However while some divorces do result in the forced sale of the family home, higher real estate prices might well be causing couples to work harder on the relationship to avoid the complications and costs of dealing with the family home.
We are seeing more flexibility in what type of new home divorcees are seeking and this helps create demand for new projects with a good mix of product for sale. After all, for both parties a new well-located apartment can now be an attractive option. But for now we will have to wait a few years to see if current high property prices keep a ‘lid’ on divorce rates.
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How the demographics of divorce affect property

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I am not an economist and after the release of the federal government’s Commission of Audit report this is a fact for which I am somewhat grateful.
Having stated my position on the economics involved, some of the Commission of Audit’s 86 recommendations could, it appears, from all of the commentary potentially re-shape Australia. It could re-shape many aspects of society and many aspects of Federalism, which seems a shame really given that only last year, Canberra, the seat of Federalism, celebrated its 100th birthday – just as well it’s not this year.
Part of the intention of the report was to spark a conversation about what sort of society we want to be, in particular over the next 50 years or so. And it appears that conversation has got off to a flying start. When you search ‘Commission of Audit Australia’ on Google there are already some 280,000,000 references.
I have found myself asking the very specific question of how will the report impact the residential housing market? How will the report influence buyers and developers now and over the next few years?
It might be foolhardy to venture into this territory while the report is still so new, but I want to join the conversation, and because the report will reach into so many areas of our social structure I think the conversation is urgent.
A Shift in Demographics
Over the years the market has had to live and adjust to some big issues, like the introduction of universal superannuation guarantee levy (1992), the GST (July 2000), the 9/11 attack on New York and Washington (2001) and the GFC (2007/2008).
However even these big events did not have some of the potential impacts on the very structure of government and beyond that the wider demographic of the Australian population, and it is in the potential demographic changes that a much wider topic opens up for discussion relative to housing and the development market.
And while some changes are not due until mid century, I stop today and think how in just over two decades the arrival of the superannuation guarantee levy is now, thanks in part to the growth of SMSFs, central to many aspects of the residential housing market.
And some seven years later we are still in part dealing with the GFC and so it does not take a crystal ball to appreciate that change can be both long-term and to a degree painful.
Shifts in Demand Shifts in Confidence
Post the audit report in Sydney this weekend auction clearance rates were reported at some 77%, that’s down a little on some recent weekend results, but still slightly higher than the last few months. However after the delivery of the federal budget on 13 May the combined impact on consumer confidence will come into sharp focus over the next few months.
Consumer confidence in Australia increased to 99.73 in April of 2014 from 99.46 in March of 2014 but has been on a falling trend over the last six months.
While the level of consumer confidence is a closely watched measure of the economy, shifts in demographics are far more subtle and until now have been less in focus.
It’s somewhat remarkable how the impact of the baby boomer generation has now started to consume the government’s attention, despite the fact that this age bracket was always going to cause pressure points as it moves out of work and into retirement, and the property market has been feeling the presence of the ‘boomers’ for some years now.
Demographic Touch Points to Watch
The proposed change to the retirement age, has grabbed a lot of attention because it has the potential to impact the entire population. This change could have varied and possibly unexpected effects on the housing market; delayed retirement could impact the demand for downsize opportunities, it could also force more people to consider selling sooner to fund the gap between their retirement and ability to collect the pension and linking the family home to any sort of pension means this would be a big change.
The family home would move into a different light and how a future inheritance is impacted could change the housing ambitions of many younger people. While changes to the cost of education could re-shape the sometimes already fragile prospects of first time buyers, as they have to fund a degree well into their careers. This could also lead to a lowering of employment prospects and impact the earning power and relevance of the middle class in the housing market.
While the audit did not directly comment on tax issues, there is an ongoing debate about the GST – an increase could impact the market, but if there is also a change in the relationship between the Commonwealth and the States, then we could see greater mobility and demographic changes across state boundaries.
Infrastructure and Privatisation
One clear result of the audit will be greater pressure for all governments to venture into a wholesale period of privatisation. This may well deliver some greater opportunities for the property development industry, and the potential sale of the Defence Housing Authority would be a very competitive process.
However the real test will be an assurance that a real improvement in infrastructure must result, if it does not, or if projects are badly delivered this could impact the continued recovery in the housing market.
This is a conversation set to take a lot of time and effort, and so I wanted to remind myself of what an audit of this kind sets out to achieve; "A systematic check or assessement, especially of the efficiency or the effectiveness of an organization." 
While demographics: "The characterises of a human population, especially the size, growth, density, distribution and statistics regarding birth, marriage, disease and death." 
With the audit touching upon so many key social issues, the flow onto demographics is certain and the housing market may well be impacted, at first indirectly by a possible drop in confidence, but in the long term more directly as demographics, incomes and taxes change.
The audit looks like the first step in an extended agenda of economic reform, and while there may be some unpopular fiscal measures taken in next week’s budget, it does appear that interest rates are set to remain low. Because any increase would boost the dollar and possibly shake consumer sentiment so for the immediate future property will remain attractive due to the long run of low rates.
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How will the Commission of Audit affect the residential housing market?

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In a little over five years two aspects of real estate marketing have been transformed; the popularity of auctions in the private treaty market and the maturing of marketing new apartment projects off the plan.
For many private vendors auctions are now the number one way to sell a home and off the plan sales now dominate the apartment market, and there are many reasons why buyers have embraced these trends. While I want to concentrate on off the plan marketing, auctions share one key advantage and that is certainty.
When the gavel falls the buyer is certain that they now own that property. I think that much the same can be said for our off the plan buyers, and while the actual method of sale is clearly different today’s project marketing does I suggest deliver that same feeling of certainty and security and we can in part thank the GFC for this.
However, I do acknowledge that not that long ago buying off the plan was not always risk-free. But today buyers have made this a popular choice and I think in the main because of the quality of planning and marketing that goes into any new project and it is here that the impact of the GFC has had played a role. Post-GFC the requirement for a high percentage of pre-sales to 80% plus became the norm and in response developers realised the importance of quality marketing which buyers embraced.
Firstly a fundamental; buyers, whether they are owner occupiers or investors, can have the pick of apartments in a new development. They can in some cases personalise the interiors and there is an opportunity for capital gain if the market moves up between the contract date and settlement.
While it is true that there are some risks in purchases off the plan, including the fact that buyers are financially bound to projects that may in rare cases be delivered late in today’s market professional developers know and greatly value of their reputation. The delivery process is well managed and a majority of buyers are more than comfortable with the fact that time can be on their side. Time to organise the sale of an existing home, or organise finance or for a SMSF investor time to plan without immediately tying up all of their capital. In some but not all states there can also be stamp duty savings alongside the fact that stamp duty is usually a differed payment, and properties are secured with an interest earning deposit, which is usually 5% – 10%.
One final point in the buying process is the format and content of contracts; these are now very familiar areas of conveyance and are no longer seen as a hurdle for solicitors and conveyancers to negotiate on behalf of their clients, its all very transparent, a seamless and reliable legal procedure for buyers, including first time buyers.
The appeal of new
A key a feature of buying off the plan is the appeal of the new, a new building, but also in many cases a new community or a new development area where the wider prospects beyond the building itself are also very attractive. It’s also seen as an exciting process and buyers have readily taken to buying after the conduct of an ROI (registration of interest campaign) this process gives buyers ample time to look into every aspect of a project, an this is where much improved marketing support delivers results.
Off the plan no longer involves ‘second guessing’ – which in the past had been a criticism. The problem being that people did not know what they were buying, but this has not been the case for many years.
Marketing assets and the depth of information available to buyers is now very impressive. In fact for some major developers the sales path has morphed into a full brand experience that is totally focused on the buyer in a constructive and imaginative format. And when success is counted, or a project launches with stunning results it can all be traced back to quality.
Today’s off the plan market is constantly underpinned by quality and nothing is left to chance. Buyers have access to a wide range of assets from easy to navigate web sites and easily understood floor plans, to complete display apartments with detailed finishes options and this is an investment made at considerable expense and I think does act to re-assure buyers. I think it is also worth noting that even when there is strong demand for projects, short cuts are not being taken, marketing still remains a high priority.
This is important, because while buyers are now days very comfortable with off the plan marketing, standards still have to be always improved, an active market is not a reason to relax standards and the quality of marketing.
Wider horizons For buyers
Another tick for off the plan buyers is earned by the fact that thanks to the quality of marketing material and support many buyers now look well beyond their own home markets for opportunities. We now have projects sold to a cross section of buyers from almost any location and that includes offshore buyers.
While this part of the market was always there the quality of marketing has now made it very easy and we know that buyers from say Sydney are only to happy to buy off the plan in Brisbane or Melbourne, or an off-shore client will look at any location. This portability of location is also a great bonus for investors who now have the ability to access any market with confidence. We have come a long way from the days of a fabled ‘free flight’ to the Gold Coast or other location as a honey pot incentive to a potential client. Today the depth and quality of information is a foundation for great portability in the apartment market.
Off the plan marketing is now very attractive, it’s the norm for even the most inexperienced of buyers with standards, quality and innovation always increasing. The market is very comfortable with the ability to access varied projects and locations, with time to plan and with the certainty of a known price all supported by quality marketing.
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Peter Chittenden

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